Methods for producing and transforming cassava protoplasts

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing protoplasts of cassava or closely related species, which protoplasts are capable of regeneration into plants. The method comprises producing friable embryogenic callus from explants of cassava or closely related species and isolating protoplasts from said friable embryogenic callus. The invention also concerns protoplasts obtainable by said method. The invention further relates to a method for transforming such a protoplast of cassava or closely related species, and transformed protoplasts obtainable thereby. In addition, the invention concerns a method for regenerating plants from these protoplasts and a cassava plant or closely related species obtainable thereby. Starch isolated from tubers of such cassava plants have an increased amylopectin content. The starch and a method for isolating it from said plants also forms part of the invention.

1. A starch obtainable by a method comprising:
 (a) providing a cassava tuber wherein the tuber comprises starch that has an amylopectin content of at least 95 wt. % based on the dry substance weight of the starch; and  
 (b) isolating the starch from the cassava tuber.  
 
     
     
       2. The starch of  claim 1  having an amylopectin content of at least 98 wt. %, based on the dry substance weight of the starch. 
     
     
       3. A method for obtaining starch from a tuber of a plant, the method comprising:
 (a) transforming a protoplast of cassava,  
 (b) regenerating a cassava plant from the protoplast, and  
 (c) isolating starch from the cassava plant, wherein the starch has an amylopectin content of at least 95 wt. % based on the dry substance weight of the starch.  
 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 3  wherein the starch has an amylopectin content of at least 98 wt. % based on the dry substance weight of the starch.